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Letters: April 24

Las Cruces Sun-News

Posted:
04/24/2014 01:00:00 AM MDT

Direct care workers deserve pay, respect

I am a student at New Mexico State University, and a full-time direct-care staff member of Tresco Inc., an agency that serves individuals with disabilities. My job duties include teaching and modeling day-to-day life skills such as cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, managing finances, assisting with medications, community integration and more. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients become as independent as possible.

We often juggle these tasks with challenging behaviors and serious medical issues on top of it all.

I sincerely feel direct-care providers do not get the equal pay and support needed. Our jobs require constant training and meetings that are often done during off-work hours. We deal with violence, physical injuries, and are also exposed to serious illnesses on the job on a daily basis. Despite years of advocacy by dedicated direct-care workers, our jobs are still viewed as "less than" other forms of work.

It is a job expected to be done in our society, but not respected -- and our pay definitely reflects this. We earn near poverty wages, and have few opportunities for advancement and the higher pay that comes with it.

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Please consider my request of advocating for better wages for direct-care staff that serve people with disabilities. I have had the opportunity to see individuals with serious mental and physical disabilities overcome many obstacles, and earn an exemplary quality of life, that often surpasses many who do not live with disabilities.

I would also like to add to the public that sees us out in the community to refrain from the stares and looks of disgust. This is their city and community, too! The deserve the right to go out and enjoy the goods and services this city has to offer without being stared at rudely, laughed at or feared.

Simona A. Chacon, Las Cruces

Article educates on importance of folic acid

Thank you for sharing a powerful story about the March of Dimes. As a registered dietitian and a mom, I believe it's important to be reminded of how the U.S. border community is affected by premature births and birth defects such as spina bifida.

It is important to emphasize that along the U.S.-Mexico border there's actually a higher prevalence of spina bifida. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, many colonias lack basic services and many women don't receive proper medical attention. It is indeed helpful to inform the community and provide important information about prevention, such as ingesting 400 mcg of folic acid per day, especially in women of childbearing age.

Most of our daily folic acid intake is ingested through fortified products such as flours and cereals. Hispanic women are at higher risk because of low folic acid intake through their diets. Masa flour, for example, is not fortified. As mentioned in your article, some other important sources of natural folates are: fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables, liver and legumes. I would urge your readers to consult a physician for more information, but prevention starts with a healthy diet.

Thank you again for providing such important and relevant and information about spina bifida, and the importance of folic acid in our daily diets.

Sylvia G. Diaz-Phillips, R.D., Las Cruces

Good Samaritan staff performed well in outbreak

As a resident of Good Samaritan-Las Cruces Village, I'd like to express the appreciation of all of us who live here for the outstanding care provided us during the recent norovirus scare. As

it turned out, the virus was a stomach bug and, though upsetting, was not deadly. In fact, it has been active all over town in various places since February. However, following the guidance of the New Mexico Department of Health, the staff prevented the virus from affecting the entire resident community.

After only one case was reported, the campus was closed. The management kept us informed every step of the way. The dietary department minimized contact with all surfaces by covering dishes with plastic, using paper and plastic utensils. Residents were served items such as salt and pepper and other containers to avoid contact. Members of the housekeeping staff took extra care, repeatedly cleaning surfaces such as handrails and other points of contact. Maintenance staff replaced air filters in the apartments. Many staff members wore masks and gloves to avoid contaminating themselves and residents.

In addition, residents were asked to minimize interaction with one another, and all group activities were canceled on campus and off for the duration.

What was extremely gratifying was the attitude of all staff members. Besides taking all precautions, they maintained their cheerful, caring attitude the entire time. Our staff here is always, without exception, courteous and caring; but during this challenging time, none of them faltered and, in fact, went far beyond their usual attitude of service. I know I speak for all of the residents in applauding and thanking them for all they did, and do, for us.

OUARZAZATE, Morocco (AP) — The people are restive, the priesthood is scheming and a fanatic band of insurgents known as the zealots are plotting assassinations — and now to make matters worse, the body of a condemned cult-leader known as Jesus has disappeared from the tomb, apparently following some ancient prophecy. Full Story